Bedstead



Aug. 29, 1933. R, c. Bo-rwRlGH-r Filed Feb. 7. 1931 Patented Aug. 29, 1933 A UNITED STATES BEDSTEAD Ronald Culham Botwright, New Malden, England Application February 7, 1931, Serial No. 514,243, and in Great Britain November 24, 1930 1 Claim.

has for its object to add to the utility of such articles of furniture whereby travelling cases or other articles can be supported in a convenient position.

In order that my invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect I have appended hereto a sheet of drawing illustrating embodiments thereof and wherein,

Fig. l is a front elevation showing the invention applied to the foot end of a wood bedstead.

Fig. 2 shows the provision of a relatively foldable leg carried by the supporting member.

Fig. 3 shows this leg in use.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, I have shown a bedstead constructed of wood but it will be understood that my invention is equally applicable to bedsteads made of metal.

The foot end of the bedstead shown may be of any suitable configuration other than that shown in the drawing and it is characterized in that the panel 1 which is supported across the usual uprights 2 has a portion removed for its full width leaving an opening 3 the depth of which is predetermined to be slightly less than the normal depth of the usual mattress and overlay provided on a bed so that the opening will not be visible above the top covering of the bed clothes. This opening 3 is normally closed by a panel 4 hinged 30 by hinges 5 to the lower part of the panel 1 so that it can be swung up into the opening 3 to provide a bedstead of normal appearance. The

panel 4 is preferably formed with a surrounding bead 6 of any suitable configuration which abuts 35 against the panel 1 and thereby obscures the opposing edges of the panels 1 and 4. The hinges 5 in practice would be obscured when the panel is closed or would be rendered as inconspicuous as possible.

The panel is supported in a horizontal position as shown in Fig. 2 by any suitable means, a convenient means comprising a pair of elbow links rI at each end of the panel, these links being connected to the uprights 2 and the vertical edges oi the panel 4. Normally the links "I lie close against the panel 4 and uprights 2 and are made of thin material so that they are inconspicuous.

The panel may be raised and lowered by a suitable projection 8 which may be shaped to appear to constitute a part of the ornamentation of the bedstead. A suitable spring latch or detent 9 is preferably provided for maintaining the panel closed by engaging it in a jamb plate 10 formed in the lower edge of the upper part of the panel 1. 55 When the panel 4 is intended to carry large My present invention relates to bedsteads and' or heavy articles such as for example if the panel is provided across a four feet or larger bed supplementary means is provided for supporting it in the horizontal position. A suitable device for this purpose vcomprises a leg l1 secured to one 50 limb l2 of an L shaped member 13 forming part of a hinge 14, the plate 15 of which is countersunk in the panel 4. Normally the leg 11 lies vertically close against the inner face of the panel 4 but v when the panel 4 is extended in a horizontal 6D plane the leg 11 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 3 to serve as an additional means of support.

It will be understood that where circumstances make it possible the head of the bed in addition or as an alternative to the foot of the bed may be provided with a panel or panels.

What I claim is:-

In a bedstead an end` panel, two uprights on which the rear face of said panel is mounted so that the rear face of the panel abuts against the front edges of the uprights, said panel being divided into two transverse parts iixed to said upright and an intermediate transverse part, the said vthree parts Vextending the complete horizontal width of the panel and normally lying in the same vertical plane to complete a continuous panel, hinges connecting the intermediate part at its lower edge to the upper edge of the lowest part, two pairs of folding elbow links connecting the normally vertical edges of said intermediate part to the outer side faces of said uprights, a two plate hinge secured by one plate to the normal rear face of said hinged part of the panel near the free edge of said hinged part of the panel, the other plate of the hinge being shaped and adapted to lie across the-free edge of said hinged part of the panel when in the supporting position, a leg to which said other hinge plate is xed, the upper end of said leg being adapted to abut against the outer face of the hinged part of the panel when in the supporting position to be swung against the inner vertical face of said hinged part of the panel when the hinged part of the panel is not in use.

RONALD CULHAM BOTWRIGHT. 

